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Roseville rep. calls for sexual harassment work group

Informal group would tackle issues at Capitol

Roseville Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, announced April 4 she’s convening a new work group to address concerns about sexual assault and harassment at the Capitol.

Becker-Finn, the DFLer who represents House District 42B, covering Gem Lake, Little Canada and Vadnais Heights, along with parts of Roseville and Shoreview, was vocal in calling out issues of harassment and sexism towards women in the Legislature late last year, when accusations of unwanted advances and other inappropriate behavior led to the resignations of former representatives Dan Schoen and Tony Cornish.

Becker-Finn, along with Rep. Erin Maye Quade, who was a target of Schoen’s unwanted advances, along with others, called for a formal legislative task force on harassment beginning in November last year.

“We gave legislative leaders the benefit of the doubt that this issue would be taken seriously,” Becker-Finn said in an April 4 release. “Republican legislators have now gone on record voting against a formal task force to address sexual harassment at the Capitol. Although I would have preferred to work together on this important issue, we have waited over four months for meaningful progress, and it is now time to move forward.”

Becker-Finn is an assistant Hennepin County attorney at the county’s Domestic Abuse Service Center and works with victims of domestic abuse and law enforcement. She’s said previously that it’s important to recognize women are disproportionately impacted by sexual harassment and violence.

According to the release, Becker-Finn’s informal work group will review policies, gather feedback from those affected and determine recommendations for changes to current policies, procedures and training.

Her group will include employment law attorneys, human resource professionals, advocates and others “who are seriously dedicated to problem solving,” the statement said.

“My colleagues have waited for meaningful action to make this a safe workplace for everyone, and that hasn’t happened” Hortman said in the release. “I support Rep. Becker-Finn taking action to make sure all Minnesotans are safe from harassment at the Capitol.”

Said Becker-Finn in the release, “This type of behavior has gone on unchecked for decades. It’s time to clean house.”